Advocacy Expert

1. Objective

The global objective of the project is to provide a long-term response to the crisis for food producers in the Bekaa region in order to maintain their production while enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities, stimulate the local economic growth and promote Bekaa’s culinary heritage.

By increasing numbers of visitors in the region, this project will support Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and contribute to the long-term sustainability of local agriculture and food systems, while promoting social and economic inclusion of vulnerable population in particular youth, women and refugees

2. Scope of work

Formulation and implementation of project public information and advocacy strategies, supports business development focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Develop and implement strategies to increase and improve public outreach of project activities.
• Identify policy advocacy issues from Project interventions and formulation and implementation of advocacy strategies to strengthen impact of Project interventions contributing to achieve project outputs.
• Preparation, content development, coordination of production and dissemination of public information materials like press releases, publications, articles and sharing of project knowledge and successes.
• Identify external and internal stakeholders, including the mass media and deliver a communication strategy using key channels and messages to engage these audiences in respect to the Project’s outcomes and objectives as well as reporting on its activities.
• Organization of publicity, advocacy, knowledge-sharing events and promotional opportunities.
• Work closely with other staff to support the organization of workshops, seminars, training and delivery of outputs

The consultant will dedicate 7 days of a period of 2 months to develop and implement the intervention with beneficiaries of the project

3. Outcomes

The following outcomes are what the activity aims to achieve:

• Manage a list of key contacts including those in the mass media to assist the Project communicate and promote its activities
• Lead the process of knowledge for dissemination at all levels and produces documents that capture the right stakeholders including production of knowledge-based products.
• 10 MSMEs are able to develop plug-in touristic income generating activities
• Organization of training for the staff on effective results-based communications and advocacy.

3. Deliverables

• Support to colleagues in identification, documenting and drafting of best practices and lessons learned.
• To facilitate events with the participants
• Lead the process of knowledge for dissemination at all levels and produces documents that capture the right stakeholders including production of knowledge-based products
• Prepare communication reports for the Project Management Team
• Coordinates with local stakeholders and other institutions regarding activities related to the project
• Activity reports

4. Qualifications

• Higher university degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or any of the social sciences- or the equivalent in professional experience gained.
• Minimum 5 to 7 years professional experience, of which 3 years professional experience relevant to the advocacy and public relations areas as outlined in the function/key results section in this TOR
• Excellent technical skills and knowledge of working with multimedia content and designing of advocacy, information and communication products maintaining corporate competency, innovations and creativity
• Strong experience in working with small businesses, mainly in agro-food and tourism
• Exceptional technical writing and presentation capabilities and ability to produce high quality reports, public information materials in English and Arabic
• Proven knowledge of Fair-Trade principles
• In depth knowledge of the Lebanese context
• Proven presentation skills
• Drives results

5. Skills

• Adheres to FTL values
• Respectful and helpful relations with all staff.
• Promotes FTL's Values and ethical standards
• Good interpersonal communication skills
• Engaged in developing self and others
• High degree of self-motivation
• Excellent leadership, team building, and management skills
• Good time management
• Organized and able to create multiple timelines and schedules
• Good knowledge of Arabic and English